Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway is one of the most charismatic figures in the game, and joining the south London club in November 2012 saw the 50-year-old take charge of his sixth professional side.

The former Bristol Rovers, QPR and Brentford footballer has inspired countless players with his brand of honesty and humour. Successful stints at Rovers, and QPR (for whom he gained promotion to the Championship) were followed by spells at Plymouth Argyle and Leicester City. And after a year out of the game he joined Blackpool in 2009, guiding the Seasiders into the Premier League for the first time in their history.

Blackpool’s brand of expansive, attacking football won Holloway many admirers, and joining Palace in 2012, he continued those ideals, with the Eagles making it into the play-off final where they dispatched Watford 1-0 thanks to a Kevin Phillips penalty, to seal a return to the top flight.

Palace have now kicked off their first season back in the Barclays Premier League following an eight-year absence.